Metabolic consequences of the extent and disposition of the aqueous intracellular environment.

Attention is focused on the aqueous compartments of eucaryotic cells (nucleoplasm, cytosol, and interior compartments of cytoplasmic membrane-bound organelles). Previous work on the relationship between cell water content, the physical properties of cell water, and metabolic activity in cysts of the brine shrimp, Artemia is summarized and discussed in that context. A previously proposed general model of the organization of metabolic activity in the aqueous compartments will be summarized.